Newborn for the new year

Local woman gives birth on New Year’s Day

January 3, 2013

SARANAC LAKE - Samantha Kalilec and Jeffrey LaComb rang in the New Year with the birth of a child.

Aureya Gail LaComb was born at 9:32 p.m. Tuesday at Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake, weighing 6 pounds 9 ounces. She was the hospital's first birth of 2013.

Samantha and Jeffrey, who live in Saranac Lake, went to bed at about 9 p.m. on New Year's Eve. Samantha expected to give birth closer to Jan. 7, but when she woke up at 5 a.m. New Year's Day, Jeffrey said they thought Aureya might be making an early arrival.

Article Photos

Aureya Gail LaComb was born at 9:32 p.m. on New Year’s Day — the first birth of 2013 at Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake. She is pictured here with her mother, Samantha Kalilec, her father, Jeffrey LaComb, and her older sister, Aubrianna.(Enterprise photo — Chris Morris)

"We got up and went shopping at Price Chopper at like 5 in the morning," Samantha said Wednesday during an interview in her room at AMC.

"That's how we knew she was ready," Jeffrey added. "She was all hyped up, ready to go."

As Jeffrey and Samantha spoke, Aureya was being held by her older sister Aubrianna, who will be 2 years old in March. Aubrianna needed some help holding her sister, and when she was asked how it felt to have a younger sibling, she remained silent.

"She's a little shy," Jeffrey noted.

Adirondack Health spokesman Joe Riccio said it's been a while since a baby was born on New Year's Day at the hospital. In recent years, the first baby of the year was born several days, if not weeks, after Jan. 1.

Riccio presented the family with a gift basket on behalf of Adirondack Health.

Jeffrey and Samantha said giving birth on New Year's Day was special and will give them something to talk about with Aureya when she gets older. It's also another thing to celebrate during future holiday seasons, they said.

Asked if they have plans for another child, both parents smiled and shook their heads.